Omri Casspi is taking his talents to Israel until the NBA’s lockout sorts itself out. The Plain Dealer has the details: “[Casspi] has signed with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to Creative Artists Agency which represents him, and he will join the club in several weeks. Casspi, acquired from the Sacramento Kings in the offseason, has been long rumored to return to Israel during the work stoppage. He also had been considering a team in Italy. Over the weekend, Casspi expressed his frustrations with the NBA on his Twitter account and hinted that he was in favor of disbanding the union. He joins Semih Erden (Turkey) and Christian Eyenga (Spain) who are playing overseas. Alonzo Gee (Poland) has returned home.”

According to the Jerusalem Post, Cavs swingman Omri Casspi will be returning to the Israeli club team he once played for while the NBA’s lockout drags along: “Israeli NBA star Omri Casspi is returning to Maccabi Tel Aviv, David Federman, one of the club’s owners said in an interview with Army Radio on Sunday. According to Federman, the majority of Casspi’s contract has been negotiated and he will be joining Maccabi for the upcoming season, granted the NBA labor dispute continues and the 2011-2012 NBA season is delayed or canceled all together as many suspect. ‘We are really in advanced negotiations with Casspi and for a number of weeks we have been contemplating how to act. Assuming Omri wants to play in Europe, it will be with us,’ Federman said. Maccabi Tel Aviv offered Casspi $40,000 a month until the NBA work dispute is resolved. Casspi is under contract with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers but would be allowed to sign with a European club as long as the NBA owners continue to lockout players until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is signed by the parties.”